Crossbow cocking device



R. L. NELSON CROSSBOW COOKING DEVICE July 10, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 14. 1960 m MEDOE q mmDOE INVENTQR. RAYMOND L. NELSON BY 3 Mm gimp om Nm 5 2 m MEDMEL ATTORNEY July 10, 1962 R. L. NELSON 3,043,287

CROSSBOW COCKING DEVICE Filed March 14. 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 l u llnrlumnnnnnunrr FIGURE 6.

y??? .L... ........t.," wil T5 INVENTOR. RAYMOND L. NELSON FIGURE 7.

z 34 :ATTORNE'Y July 10, 1962 Filed March 14. 1960 I24 FIGURE 8.

FIGURE l5.

R. L. NELSON 3,043,287

CROSSBOW cocxmc DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIGURE 9. FIGURE IO.

FIGURE l6.

INVENTOR.

RAYMOND L. NELSON ATTORNEY States This invention relates to a crossbow cocking device for cocking a bow string thereof preparatory to shooting an arrow aligned on the stock thereof.

In medieval times crossbows were usually cocked by attaching one end of a. cord to the mid-length of the bow string, and the opposite end of the cord was wound on a Windlass secured to the butt end portion of the stock of the crossbow. The cocking force of such a device is limited to the length of crank and drum diameter. Furthermore the bulky Windlass is objected to being located on the crossbow for the reason that it interferes withthe expert handling and aiming of the crossbow.

Trigger guards, sights, and windguages are well known in the prior art and therefore are omitted in the present application as non-essentials to the combination of a crossbow cocking device.

My invention of a crossbow cocking device broadly includes a stock portion grooved for the reception of an arrow adapted for shooting with the crossbow, a lever being pivoted to the stock portion, a length of chain having one end thereof adapted for attaching to the midlength of the bow string, idlers being mounted in the stock portion and the lever portion and located to support the chain strung thereover and in hollowed portions of the stock and lever, one end of the chain being anchored in the lever portion, latches being located in hollowed portions of the stock and lever adapted to normally prevent the chain from feeding toward the bow string, and a spring located in hollowed portions of the lever adapted to take up the slack chain therein, whereby manually cocking the lever relative to the stock portion of the crossbow will pull a portion of the chain on the stock portion into the hollow portion of the lever. A plurality of operations of cocking the lever will pull a considerable quantity of chain into the hollow portion of the lever, and is adapted to cocking a crossbow of tremendous strength to a receptive position for a trigger holding device with the release therefor.

An advantage of my crossbow cocking device is that it may be used for hunting large game, and an arrow shot therefrom will penetrate a great depth due to the force therefrom. Very little noise is made by the bow or arrow shot therefrom, and ordinarily will not disturb the remaining game in the immediate vicinity. Furthermore the great force released by my crossbow with the cocking device to project an arrow increases the accuracy against prevailing wind and distance.

Another advantage of my crossbow with the cocking device is in the sportsmanship of archery and target practice.

Another advantage of my crossbow with the cocking device is that the elements for the cocking device are mostly confined within the stock and lever portions thereof, and permits the operator or sportsman to aim and shoot an arrow without interfering elements that may be mounted on the crossbow stock or butt thereof.

My invention will be more fully understood from this specification with reference to the accompanying drawings and the claims appended.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a view of a longitudinal elevation of my crossbow with the near side removed to reveal the interior cocking device.

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view in fragmentary form 3343,28? Patented July 10, 1962 taken on lines 2-2 of FIGURE 1 and illustrates the latch holding device for the cocked bow string.

FIGURE 3 is a view taken in section on lines 3-3 of FIGURE 1 and illustrates the hollow lever with a coil spring therein for normally recoiling the chain.

FIGURE 4 is a view taken in section on lines 4-4 of FIGURE 1 and illustrates the idlers and latch members pivoted in the crossbow stock for support and control of the chain.

FIGURE 5 is a view taken in section on lines 5 -5 of FIGURE 1 and illustrates the hinge, idler and chain in the hollow of the lever.

FIGURE 6 is a plan view of one form of my crossbow and is a general similar plan of another form of my crossbow illustrated in FIGURE 1. 1

FIGURE 7 is a View of a longitudinal elevation of my crossbow with parts removed to show the cocking device as illustrated in FIGURE 6.

FIGURE 8 is a view taken in section on lines 8-8 of FIGURE 7 illustrating an idler and latch located in the butt or lever portion of my crossbow.

FIGURE 9 is a view taken in section on lines 9.-9 of FIGURE 7 and illustrates a coil spring, roller and chain located in the hollow of the butt or lever of my crossbow.

FIGURE 10 is a view illustrating the front portions of the bow, string, and arrow located on the stock of my crossbow.

FIGURE 11 is a view illustrating one of the typical rollers and pin as used to support the chain in my crossbow. A portion of the roller is broken away to show the preferred anti-friction type of roller.

FIGURE 12 is a plan view of the idler and yoke as used in FIGURE 7.

FIGURE 13 is a plan view of the preferred lock members in detail form for holding the position of the lever to the stock portion as illustrated in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 14 is a perspective view illustrating the latch member as used in FIGURE 7 for a ratchet effect to hold the chain in cocked positions.

FIGURE 15 is a View in elevation of FIGURE 13.

FIGURE 16 is a view'in elevation of the preferred lock members for holding the position of the lever or butt portion to the stock portion as illustrated in FIG- URES 6 and 7. This illustrated position is shown in fragmentary form and is used for aiming, shooting and carrying the crossbow.

Two forms of my crossbow cocking devices are dis- 4, 5, 6, 10, 11, 13,15 and 16 follows:

A stock portion 16 is grooved at 17 for the reception of an arrow 18. A bow 19 is secured to the front end of the stock portion 16. A string 20 is secured to the ends of the how 19, and the string 20 normally rests on the stock portion 16.

A preferred holder 21 for the cocked string is piv- I t the actuating coil spring or take-up 28 chain 27 istreleased into the hollow of the lever 24 with the aid of the actuating coil spring or take-up 28 mounted within the hollow lever portion 24. The pawl members 29 and 31! are alternately disengageable with the holding of the chain 27 when a portion of the chain is being cocked and recoiled into the lever 24 by the coil spring or take-up 28.

. A hook 31 is secured to one end of the chain 27 and is adapted to slide on the stock portion 16, engage the bow string 20, and pull the bow string 20 from the, free position as similarly illustrated in full lines in FIGURE 6 to the cocked position illustrated in dash lines of FIG- URE 6 and cooked position illustrated in FIGUREl.

The chain 27 is strung over cocking idler 32 and'idler 33 rotatably mounted in the hollowed portions 'of the stock portions of the crossbow. The pawl member 29 mounted in the lever 24 normally holds the chain 27 preferably through the teeth of the cocking idler .26

against movementtoward the bow string 21 and stock portion 16, and the pawl member 30 normallyholds the chain 27 preferably through the teeth of the cocking idler '32 against movement toward the bow string 20.

I When the lever 24 is cocked by pulling the free end i Q thereof away from the stock portion 16 as illustrated in dashlines of FIGURE 1 the spacing of the cocking idlers 26 and 32 is'inc'reased to pull a portion of the chain 27ffrom the stock portion 16 into the increased spacing between the cocking idlers 26 and 32. The hook 31 is actuatingcoil spring or take-up 28 and the normal release of the pawl member 29. One end of the coil spring or take-up 28 is secured to the chain 27 and the oppo- 'site endthereof issecured to the free end portion of the lever 24, The cocking idlers 26and 32 are prefer- 'ably sprockets, and the chain 27 is preferably of the roller type construction.

A plurality of cocking actions of the lever 24 will pull the hook 31- and bow string 20 to the position of the holder 21 held by the trigger 22. 'The hook 31 is then manually released from thebow stringZfi, and the end of the chain with the hook 31 is drawn rearwardly by An arrow 18 illustrated in dash lines is placed in the groove 17, and'after careful aiming the crossbow, the arrow is shot by the release of the-trigger 22 and cocked "bow 20. Range sights, wind guages, and trigger guards by hook member 38 and pawl 39 operated manually by lever. 40. The hook member 38 is preferably secured a in the lever 24, and projected upwardly into the stock portion 16. The lock latch 39 is pivoted in the stock portion 16.

Pawl member 3t) is normally held in the latched'posi tion relative to the chain .27 by a compression spring 41 and manually opened by lever 42 and shaft 43 when manually pulling the chain 27'toward'the bow string 20. Pawl member '29 is normally held in latched position 6 relative to the chain 27 by a compression'spring 44 and the reception of an arrow 118 A how 119 is secured to the front end of the stock portion 116. A string 120 is secured to the ends. of the how 119 and the string 120 normally rests on the stock portion 116.

in the hollow stock portion 116 and is controlled by the manual operation thereof, and the pivoted trigger 122 mounted in the hollow stock portion and releasably en-- gageable with the opposite grooved portion 123.

A lever 124 preferably the butt portion of the crossbow is pivoted at 125 respectively to the stock portion 116. Idler 136 is rotatably mounted preferably in the yoke 134. The yoke 134 is preferably mounted to.v slide in guide grooves in hollowed'portions of the lever with an actuating coil spring or take-up 128 preferably of the compression type and are located in the hollow portion of the lever to normally force the yoke 134 and idler 136 toward the free end of the lever 124 to take up the slack of the chain 127. Cooking idlers 132 and 126 preferably of the roller type are rotatably mounted in the stock portion 116 and lever portion 124 respectivelyand are located close together and spaced from the pivot 125. Idlers 137 and 133 are rotatably mounted in the hollow portions of the lever 124 and stock portion 116 respectively to support the chain 127.

A hook 131 is secured to one end of the chain 127 and is adapted to slide on the stock portion 116, manually engage the bow string 120 from the'free position illustrated in full lines in FIGURES 6 and 7 to the cocked position illustrated in dash lines of FIGURE 6 and is similar'to the cocked position illustrated in FIGURE 1;

The chain 127 is strung over idlers 126, 132 and 137.

The pawl member '129 with actuating spring 144 mounted in the hollow portion of the lever normally holds the chain 127 against movement toward the bow string 120 and stock portion 116 and the pawl member130 mounted in the hollow portion of the stock portion 116 normally holds the chain-127 against movement toward the bow string 120.

' When the lever 124, preferably the butt portion of the crossbow, is cocked on the pivot 125 as illustrated in dash lines of FIGURE 7, the spacing of cocking idlers 126 and 132 is increased to pull a portion of the chain 127 from the stock portion 116 by latch 129 into theincreased spacing between the cocking idlers 126 and 132. The hook 131 is pulled backward on the stock by the cocking action equivalent to the portion of chain fed into the increased space between the idlers 126 and 132 and are held by latch member 130. The lever 124 is manually returned toward the stock portion 116 and the additional portion of chain 127 now slackened between the idlers 126 and 132 is released by pawl 129 and taken up by the force of the actuating coil spring or take-up 128.

The lever 124 or butt portion of the crossbow is normally locked to the stock portion 116 by the pivoted hook member 138 latched to the pin 139. V

The pawl member 13 0 is normally held in latched positionrelative tothe chain 127 by a "compression spring 141and'may be manually opened'by lever 142and shaft 143 when manually"pulling the chain 127 toward the bow string 120. The chain 127 may be manually pulled upwardly from the pawlmember 130. for the release thereof and the lever 142 may be omitted.

The pivoted pawl member 129 is normally held in latched position to the chain 127 by a compression spring 144 and manually opened by lever 145 when manually pulling the chain 127 toward the bow stringf120.

A plurality of cocking actions of the lever 124 will pull the hook 131 and bow string 120 to the position of the holder 121 held by the trigger 122. The balance of the operations are the same as previously described in the species of-FIGURE l and related views.

Relative terms are used in the two species as described and are adapted for the generic claims appended.

I claim: 7

1. A crossbow, including a stock portion grooved for the reception of an arrow adapted for shooting with a bowstring of the crossbow,v a lever being hollow, said chain, a cocking idler, said cocking idler being mounted in the hollow portion of said lever, a second cocking idler, said second cocking idler being mounted on said stock portion, said first mentioned and second cocking idlers being spaced from the pivot of said lever and supporting the chain strung thereover, one end of the chain being in the mentioned hollow of said lever, a hook, said hook being secured to the opposite end of the chain to cock the bowstring on the stock portion, pawls, said pawls being pivotally secured respectively to said stock portion and said lever normally preventing the chain from feed: ing toward the bowstring, said first mentioned and said second cocking idlers being spread further apart as the lever is cocked from the stock portion on the pivot thereto to pull a portion of the chain from the stock portion into an additional space formed by the cocked lever, a spring takeup, said spring take-up being mounted in the mentioned hollow portion of the lever and connected to take up the slack chain as it is fed into the mentioned hollow portion of the lever when the lever is returned to butt against the stock portion thereof, and means to lock said lever to said stock portion.

2. A crossbow, including a stock portion being hollow and grooved for the reception of an arrow adapted for shooting with the crossbow, a lever being hollow, said lever being pivoted to said stock portion, a length of chain, a cocking idler, said cocking idler being spaced in said lever from the pivot of said lever, a second cocking idler, said second cocking idler being spaced in the stock portion from the pivot or" said lever to said stock portion, a spring take-up, said length of chain being strung over said cocking idlers, a hook, said hook being secured to one end of said length of chain and connected'to the bow- 6 string, the opposite end of said length of chain being connected with said spring take-up, said spring take-up being mounted in the mentioned hollow portion of said lever, a pawl member, said pawl member being mounted in the hollow portion of the lever to hold said length of chain from feeding toward the bowstring of said crossbow, a second pawl member, said second pawl member being mounted in the hollow portion of the stock portion of said crossbow to hold said length of chain from feeding toward the bowstring of the crossbow, said length of chain being normally movable toward said spring take-up, said cocking idlers being spread apart as the free end of said lever is manually cocked from the stock portion of the crossbow pulling a portion of the chain with the hook on the bowstring rearwardly and between said first and second cocking idlers, the mentioned portion of chain' being drawn toward the hollow of the lever by said spring take-up when the lever is manually returned to butt against the stock portion, said pawls being manually disengaged when said hook and said chain are manually pulled forwardly toward the bowstring, and means to lock said lever to said stock portion.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,520,713 Diehr Aug. 29', 1950 2,786,461 Pelsue Mar. 26, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 56,451 Germany May 11, 1891- 44,542 Switzerland Nov. 2, 1908 

